The republican party's demand for special designated EU status for Northern Ireland post-Brexit has raised unionist concerns that their real motive was to drive a wedge between the region and the rest of the UK.

The fact Brexit has now been caught up in a reignited debate about a united Ireland has also polarised the issue.

The amendment to legislation in the European Parliament said the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which largely ended the violence and subsequent agreements, should be fully upheld in the withdrawal agreement.

It said special EU status would also ensure membership of the Customs Union, Single Market and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.

It also called for the freedom of movement of goods, people and services on the island of Ireland.

This is a very significant move by the Parliament and a real slap in the face to nationalism and Irish republicanism ! https://t.co/9uscijqBnb

Concerns over a hard border post-Brexit have exercised minds in Belfast, Dublin, London and Brussels, with a series of high-level promises to try and minimise its impact.

Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson said the amendment was "roundly rejected" by the Parliament.

A Sinn Fein statement said: "The outcome of (Wednesday's) vote in the European Parliament in Strasbourg is disappointing. This amendment was not put forward by Sinn Fein.

"It is equally disappointing that both the DUP and Fine Gael MEPs voted against the democratically expressed will of the people of the north and Dail Eireann.

"Sinn Fein is continuing to build support for the case for the north to secure designated special status within the EU."

The republican party's demand for special designated EU status for Northern Ireland post-Brexit has raised unionist concerns that their real motive was to drive a wedge between the region and the rest of the UK.

The fact that Brexit has now been caught up in a reignited debate about a united Ireland has also polarised the issue.

Sinn Fein added: "We have already ensured that the European Parliament is in agreement that the Good Friday Agreement should be protected in all its parts.

"Moreover, the European Council's negotiation guidelines support the need to protect the Good Friday Agreement and recognise the unique circumstances on the island of Ireland and the need for flexible and imaginative solutions.

"We are engaging with hundreds of political representatives and officials from across Europe in order to gather further support for special status for the north within the EU and will continue to do so."